Identification of a Sam68 Ribonucleoprotein Complex Regulated by Epidermal Growth Factor

Sam68, Src associated in mitosis of 68 kDa, is a known RNA-binding protein and a signaling adaptor protein for tyrosine kinases. However, the proteins associated with Sam68 and the existence of a Sam68 complex, its mass, and regulation are, however, unknown. Herein we identify a large Sam68 complex with a mass >1 MDa in HeLa cells that is composed of ∼40 proteins using an immunoprecipitation followed by a mass spectrometry approach. Many of the proteins identified are RNA-binding proteins and are known components of a previously identified structure termed the spreading initiation center. The large Sam68 complex is a ribonucleoprotein complex, as treatment with RNases caused a shift in the molecular mass of the complex to 200–450 kDa. Moreover, treatment of HeLa cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or epidermal growth factor induced the disassociation of Sam68 from the large complex and the appearance of Sam68 within the smaller complex. Actually, in certain cell lines such as breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and BT-20, Sam68 exists in equilibrium between a large and a small complex. The appearance of the small Sam68 complex in cells correlates with the ability of Sam68 to promote the alternative splicing of CD44 and cell migration. Our findings show that Sam68 exists in equilibrium in transformed cells between two complexes and that extracellular signals, such as epidermal growth factor stimulation, promote alternative splicing by modulating the composition of the Sam68 complex.     

BRK phosphorylates PSF promoting its cytoplasmic localization and cell cycle arrest

BReast tumor Kinase (BRK) also known as protein kinase 6 (PTK6) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in the majority of human breast carcinoma. The expression of BRK is a known prognostic marker of breast carcinoma. BRK has been shown to lie downstream of epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling and mediate effects on cell proliferation and migration. To identify BRK substrates and interacting proteins, we undertook a proteomic approach. BRK immune complexes were purified from the BT-20 breast cancer cell line and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Herein, we report the identification of PSF, the polypyrimidine tract-binding (PTB) protein-associated splicing factor, as a BRK-interacting protein and substrate. BRK and PSF co-eluted in a large protein complex that was regulated by EGF stimulation. Furthermore, BRK and PSF co-immunoprecipitated in BT-20 cells and we defined the interaction as being an SH3 domain–polyproline interaction. The C-terminal tyrosines of PSF were the site of phosphorylation by BRK. Moreover, tyrosine phosphorylation of PSF was also observed upon EGF stimulation, consistent with a role of PSF and BRK downstream of the EGF receptor. Interestingly, the tyrosine phosphorylation promoted the cytoplasmic relocalization of PSF, impaired its binding to polypyrimidine RNA, and led to cell cycle arrest. Our findings show that BRK targets the PSF RNA-binding protein during EGF stimulation.